Bottle carrier



BOTTLE CARRIER Dec. 2l, 1943. G. H. HUTAFF, JR

Filed Feb. 16, 1942 4|. lhlllllllllll liilllllullll" @Nl MNI ,ON MN QN MA.

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llllllllmllllm Puenied Dee. 2i, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v vBorrar CARRIER George n. nuten, Jr., Wilmington, N. c. Application February 16, 1942, Serial No. 431,149

6 Claims.

My invention relates to. new and useful improvements in a. carrier for a plurality of bottles, in the instance shown in the drawing the carrier being adapted for supporting six bottles.

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a carrier of the character described which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and adapted to be maintained in a sanitary condition.

Another object of the invention consists Ain the provision of a carrier of the character described in which the bottles are suspended therefrom, the carrier including two members adapted to be slid one relative to the other, each of the members including a plurality o1 openings through which the necks of the bottles are received, the sliding members when in one position of adjustment permitting the necks of the bottles to be readily passed through the openings and when in another position of adjustment engaging the necks of the bottles in such a manner that they will be suspended therefrom and held against accidental displacement.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a carrier including members which are slidable one relative to the other for receiving and supporting the bottles, and a handle by means of which the device may be carried from place to place, the handle when in carrying position preventing sliding movement of `the members one relative tothe other and preventing accidental displacement or dropping of the bottles from the carrier.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel details of construction, and arrangement of parts, described in the following specification and illustrated inthe` accompanying drawing, and while I have illu`strated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan of the completed device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the bottom plate or supporting member.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking from the left hand end of Fig. 1. 4

Fig. 4 is a iragmental transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental longitudinal section on the lineS-S of Fig. lV looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail with a portion of a bottle neck shown in elevation, the slidable members or plates of the carrier being shown in position for the reception of the bottle neck; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar'to Fig. 6 with the slidable members or plates of the carrier shown in bottle-supporting positions.

Myimproved form of carrier is of such `a construction and material that it may be sold at a relatively low price or may be given away to a customer by a storekeeper or dispenser of beverages and may be used for carrying filled bottles from the store to the desired place for consumption and may also be used for returning empty bottles to the store. It; is preferably made of metal so that it may be kept in a sanitary condition and will not be `readily destructible as would be the case if made of cardboard or the like, it being understood that when beverages are purchased from a store they have often been on ice and therefore there would be a certain amount of moisture on the outside of the bottle or bottles.

In the drawing t indicates the top plate or supporting member and 2 indicates the bottom plate or supporting member which are positioned in overlapping relation and slidable one relative to' the other. The bottom plate or supporting member 2 is provided at one end with the up-turned vertical flange 3 and the longitudinal edges are bent upwardly and inwardly to provide horizontal guide anges It which, asshown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawing, are of such a height from the upper surface of the plate or member to provide a space to receive the longitudlnal edges of the top plate or member i. Longitudinally spaced circular openings 5 are formed in the plate or member 2, adjacent each of the guide flanges 4, and are of such a size as to permit the insertion of the bottle necks as shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, the bottle neck being shown at 6 and provided with an enlarged bead 'l adjacent the mouth portion, the mouth portionbeing normally closed by the usual form of cap indicated at 8. The plateor member 2 is further provided between the rows of openings 5 and intermediate the ends with transversely extending elongated openings 9 adapted to receive portions or extensions of a handle to be later described. An elongated opening l is formed in the plate 2, between one of the openings 9 and the up-turned flange 3, to receive a rivet Il or other suit-able headed fastening carried by the upper plate or member I, the elongated opening In permitting longitudinal sliding movement of the top plate or member` I relative to the bottom plate or member 2.

The longitudinal edges of the top plate or member I are normally received in the guideways formed by the inturned ilanges 4 and what might be termed the outer end f this top plate or member I is provided with thev up-turned iiange I2. 'I'he inner end of the plate or member I is notched to provide the ared passages it leading to the recesses or openings M, the edges of the recesses or openings I4 when the plates or members I and 2 are in the bottle carrying position shown in Fig. 1 overlying the edges ofthe end openings 5, adjacent the flange 3. in the plate oimember 2. The plate or member i is further provided, adjacent each longitudinal edge, with the longitudinally spaced openings l having reduced recesses or passages i8 leading therefrom and, as shown more particularly in Fig. l of the drawing, the recesses or passages i6 are of such a width that when the plates or members I and 2 are in bottle carrying positions they will overlap the openings 5 while the openings I5 are of such a size as to permit the ready passage of a bottle neck therethrough when said openings l5 are in alignment with'the openings 5 of the bottom plate or member 2.

Struck from the top plate or member l are the upwardly directed lugs or ears l'i te which is pivotally connected at I8 a handle i9 which is adapted to be swung downwardly into a position parallel with the upper surface of the member or plate I or swung` upwardly into substantially vertical carrying position shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The handle is pivotally connected to the ears or lugs il. to provide the extensions adapted when the handle is in its carrying position 'to swing through the notches 2l formed in the top plate or member I and into the elongated openings 9 in the bottom plate or member 2. When in this position the plates or members i and -2 will be held against sliding movement one relative to the other. When in the carrying position shown in Fig. 3 the handle projects at a slight angle oir-center and this is of -advantage in that it has a tendency to `prevent the handle being swung, when carrying the botties, and preventing the release of the locking connection between the members l and 2. When in the carrying position shown in Fig. 3 the extensions 20 on the handle It will engage ends of the openings 9 to limit the swinging movement of the handle beyond the position shown in Fig. 3. 'I'his engagement of the extensions of the handle with the ends of the openings is shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

From the above detailed description of the construction it is thought that the operation and advantages will be `clearly understood. In Fig. 1 of the drawing the members or plates i and 2 are shown in what mi-ght be termed theinbottle carrying positions. When it is desired to position bottles, to be suspended from the carrier, the user will grasp the flanges 3 and l2 and by pushing or pulling outwardly thereon the members will be slid one relative to the other to bring the openings I3 and I5 in the top plate or member I in alignment with the openings 5in the bottom lplate or member 2. When in this position the bottle necks may be inserted ,through the aligned openings, as shown more particularly in Fig. 6 of the drawing, and when the necks are thus positioned the user may then push inwardly on the ilanges 3 and l2 to position the edges of the recesses or passages it and I6 over the openings '5 and beneath the beads or enlargements 'I on the bottle necks as shown more particularly in Fig. 'i' of the drawing. When in this position the bottles will be supported in suspension and when the handle I9 is swung upwardly into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and by dotted lines in Fig. i the extensions 2@ will swing through the notches 2l and through the elongated openings 9, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When in this carrying position, as previously stated, the members or plates l and 2 cannot be slid one relative to the other and thereby the bottles are held against accidental displacement and may be carried from place to place. The rivet il. operating in the elongated opening I 0, permits sliding movement of the plates or members l andf2 relative to one another but limits such movement by contact of the rivet with the ends of the opening.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f

'1. A bottle carrier comprising a body` portion for supporting bottles, the body portion including upper and lower members slidably adjustable longitudinally one relatively to the other into bottle receiving and bottle carrying positions, and a handle pivotally connected to one of the members to be swung transversely of the members to carrying position extending upwardly relatively to the members and to be swung downwardly out of carrying position, said handle having a portion to engage with a portionl on the other member to lock the members invbottle carrying position against relative longitudinal movement when the yhandle is swung to carrying position.

2. A bottle carrier comprising a body portion for supporting bottles, and a handle, the body portion including upper and lower members slidably adjustable one relatively to the other into bottle receiving and bottle carrying positions, the

handle being pivotally connected near one end to the upper member to be swung to carrying position extending upwardly relatively to said members and to be swung downwardly out of carrying position to a position alongside said memebrs, said handle having a lower end portion projecting beyond its pivotal connection adapted to engage with a portion on the lower member to lock the membersin bottle carrying position against relative sliding movement when the handle is moved to carrying position, said end portion of the handle being connected therewith whereby to be disengaged from said portion on the lower member by the handle when the latter is swung down out of carrying position.

3. A bottle carrier' comprising a body portion for supporting bottles, the body portion including upper and lower members slidably adjustable one relatively to the other into bottle receiving and bottle carrying positions, the lower member being provided with an opening therein, and a handle pivotally connected near one end to theupper member to be swung to carrying position extending upwardly relatively to said members and to be moved downwardly out of carrying posi-` tion, said handle having a lower end portion projecting beyond its pivotal connection adapted to project into the opening in the lower member to lock the members in bottle carrying position against relative sliding movement when the handle is in carrying position, said handle portion being connected to the handle whereby to be removed from said opening by the handle when the latter is swung down out of carrying position.

position extending upwardly relatively to thel members and for movement downwardly out of carrying position, the handle having a portion adapted to project into the aligned openings of the members for locking the members in bottle carrying position against relative sliding movement when the handle is moved to carrying pOsition| said handle portion being connected to the handle whereby to be removed from said openings inthe members by the handle when the latter is swung downwardly out of carrying position.

5. A bo'ttle carrier comprising a body portion for supporting bottles, the body portion including upper and lower members slidably adjustable longitudinally one relatively to the other into bottle receivingand bottle carrying positions, the members having openings therein arranged to be in registration when the members are in bottle carrying position, and a handle pivotally connected to the upper member to be swung transversely of the members to carrying-position extending upwardly relative to the members and for movement downwardly out of carrying position, the handle having lower extensions adapted to project into the aligned openings of the members for locking the membersin bottle carrying position against relative longitudinal movement when the handle is moved to carrying position, said handle extensions being removed from said openings in the members when the handle is swung downwardly out of carrying position.

6. A bottle carrier comprising a body portion for supporting bottles, the body portion including'upper and lower members slidably adjustable one relatively to the other into bottle receiving and bottle carrying positions, the members having openings therein arranged to be in -registration when the members are in bottle carrying position, and a handle pivotally connected to one of the members to be swung to substantially vertical carrying position ofi-center of the pivot point and for movement downwardly out of carrying position, the handle having lower extensions adapted to project into the aligned openings of the members for locking the members in bottle carrying position against relative sliding movement when the handle is moved to carrying position, the walls at one end of the openings in the lower member cooperating with said handle extensions for hunting the movement of the handle when swung to carrying position, said handle extensions being connected to the handle whereby to be removed from said openings in the members by the handle when the latter is swung downwardly out of carrying position.

GEORGE I-I. HUTAFF, JR. 

